Flat Top Hill and Bendigo
27th – 29th July 2024
A week prior to the Luxmore Hut trip, the weather forecast was for heavy rain but changed to clearing on Tuesday so it was decided Luxmore was all go. Wednesday the weather forecast for the weekend looked extremely heavy rain so we opted for Plan B destination of Alexandra though disappointed that we were not going to get to Luxmore Hut to see Phylis and Maurice.
Six of us arrived at the Alexandra Holiday Camp on Friday evening and settled in to our 1 star cabins though Jenny and Karyl upgraded thankfully as we gathered in their cabin each night. Tea and cards filled in the evening.
Saturday weather was overcast so perfect for tramping. By car, the Flat Top Hill can be reached by driving to Butchers Dam, 10 mins out of Alexandra on the Roxburgh Road. However, to make the day more interesting, we left from the carpark just over the Alex bridge along Earnscleugh Rd. From the carpark, we walked under the Alex Bridge and along the Roxburgh Gorge Bike Track. We passed Butchers Creek which is the outlet of Butchers Dam and this creek flows into the Clutha River. This bike track follows the Clutha River and there are many interesting points of interest on the other side, such as man-made rock walls for stabilising the walking track at river level and sheer rock cliffs with holes for animals. We walked along the bike track for 2 hours reaching the Roxburgh Faces Track which is a 4WD track climbing 350m to Flat Top Hill. An hour later we were at the junction of Flat Top Hill Loop Track. We continued south on the track, which dropped down to the west. Here we stopped for lunch, overlooking the Alexandra-Roxburgh Rd at Fruitlands and Butchers Dam plus in the distance, the Old Man Range and the Clyde Dam. We continued on this loop and there is another loop, the Basin View Track which we opted not to do as it was 2pm. So we walked back up to the junction where we started. Then down the Roxburgh Faces Track and back along the 6km of Roxburgh Gorge bike track to the vehicles. On the way back, just before reaching Butchers Creek, there was a goat track coming down the hill and joining the bike track which we assumed joined the Basin View Track at the top. This could be an alternative route back. After 26km of walking, we headed back to camp, showered and went out for a well deserved Mexican meal topped off with Mexican hats and Margaritas. Though we did feel like some scones, jam and cream.
Sunday early morning brought light rain which settled in so instead of doing the Lilico Spur DOC track at Waikerikeri Valley, Julian suggested Bendigo. Halfway between Cromwell and Tarras, we turned right into Bendigo Loop Rd, then Blue Mines Rd and parked at Welshtown. Neville was familiar with the tracks so from here we walked around the Aurora Track (1.5hrs) and Matilda Battery Track (1/2 hr) taking in the gold mining history by reading the many information boards and viewing the ruins of stone houses, stamper battery, old hotels, incredible rock retaining walls for old bullock tracks, and the outdoor ballroom which overlooked the Upper Clutha valley. We were all in awe of the hard physical labour that went into these structures. In 1868, Thomas Logan’s determination to get alluvial gold led to the establishment of Logantown, which included a bakery, butcher, up to 7 hotels, a clothier, and a blacksmith.
A weekend of exploring enjoyed by all. Thanks for your company.
Jenny, Karyl, Lynette, Julian and Neville. Bess
